ostrom



N0. 623,6l8. Patented Apr. 25, 1399. F. w. os'rnom.

BUTTONHOLE SEWING MACHINE.

(Application filed July 27, 1898.)

3 SheetsSheat I.

{No Model.)

INVENTOR ELL/m) 2 @AMW. W M

WITNESSES No. 623,618. Patented. Apr. 25, I899. F. W. USTROM.

BUTTONHOLE SEWING MACHINE.

(Application filed. July 27, 1898.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

WITNESSES INVENTOR No. 623.6!8. Patented Apr. 25,1899; F. w. DSTROM.

BUTTONHOLE SEWING MACHINE. (Appiication filed m 21, 1898.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Shut 3.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR.

UNTTEE STATES PATENT QFHQET FREELAND \V. OSTROM, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE XVHEELER & YVILSON MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

BUTTONHOLE-SEWING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 623,618, dated April 25,1899.

Serial No. 686,986. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Beitknown that I, FREELAND W. Osrnorna citizen of the United States,residing at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented a certain newand usefullmprovement in Cutter-Controllers for Buttonhole Sewing and OuttingMachines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of my invention is to control positively the time of action of an automat ically-actuated buttonhole-cutter, so as toinsure the cutting of the butt-onhole -slit in proper relation to the overseamin g of the buttonhole no matter Whether such buttonholeslit is cut during the initial overseaming of the buttonhole or just prior to the completion of the overseaming.

The time of automatic actuation of the buttonhole cutter, as herein shown and de- I scribed, depends upon the step-by-step feed movement of the cloth-actuating mechanism, and such step-by-step feed movement is coincident with the formation, of every alter-- 2 5 nate lock-stitch or coincident with the formation of every overseam-stitchthatis,the feedpa-wl is caused to actuate the feed movement one step at one descent of the needle, and at its next subsequent descent the pawl is moved to aposition enabling it at the next or third descent of the needle again to advance a step in the step feed movement, the step-by-step feed movement occurring at the time the needle is out of the material and the descent of the cutter being timed to occur just subsequently to the step-by-step feed movement and coincidently with the descent of the needle for the formation of an edge stitch, and consequently in or nearly in line with the neiledle relatively to the length of the buttonho e.

The cloth-actuating mechanism, as herein shown and described, is adjusted first to overseam the left-hand side of the buttonhole, and

5 during the overseaming of that side of the b-uttonhole-slit the step-bystep movement occurs just prior to the formation of the edge stitch; but during the o'verseaming of the right-hand side the feed movement occurs 5 0 just prior to the formation of the depth-stitch.

' So it will be understood that to cut the buttonhole-slit just prior to the finishing of the oversea-ming the cloth-actuating mechanism should be adjusted first to oven-seam the righthand side of the buttonhole, such manner of v adjustment being fully described in my pending application, Serial No. 639,400.

The broad principle of my inventionis embodied in a cutter the descent of which is insured to occur only when the cloth occupies the proper relative position, the cutter-actuating mechanism performing the function of setting the cloth-actuating mechanism at a determinate position before it permits the cloth-actuating mechanism to actuate it. As a form of mechanism for carrying out this invention I have provided the ratchet-wheel with a frictional control, which permits the ratchet-wheel and parts connected to and driven by it to be easily turned slightly backward, while their progressive movements are governed by a friction sufficient practically to control the overthrow caused by the momentum given these parts by the action of the driving-pawl, thus permitting as the pawl returns for its subsequent feed actuation a slight backward movement of the cloth-actuating mechanism when resisted by the force necessary to connect the cutter actuating mechanism with the depressor carried by the needle-actuating mechanism.

For the purpose of this application I have illustrated and described theconstruction and operation of my invention in combination with so much of the buttonhole feeding and sewing mechanisms illustrated and described in my pending application, Serial No. 639,400, and in connection with so much of the cutting mechanism shown and described in date April 20, 1897, as is necessary to show and describe an operative combination, to which application and patent reference will be hereinafter made.

In the accompanying drawings,illustrating 9 5 my invention, in the several figures of which like parts aresimilarly designated, Figure 1 is a view in perspective looking from the rear, showing an automatic buttonhole sewing and as shown and described by the patent and pending application referred to. Fig. 2 is a United States Patent No.- 581,031, bearing cutting machine constructed and arranged 10o in perspective of the lever for operatively connecting the cloth-actuating mechanism with the cutter-actuating mechanism. Fig. 5 is a perspective View of one of the frictionpieces. Fig. (3 is a perspective view of the coiled spring which cooperates with the lever of Fig. 4. Fig. 7'is aperspective view of the pivot-screw for said lever. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the friction-spring of the ratchet-wheel. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the upper end of the pivotal stud. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a portion of the adjustable way in which the lever of Fig. 4 is pivoted, and Fig. 11 is a perspective View of said lever, way, and pivot-screw assembled.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 3, the ratchetwheels D D, gear-pinion d, pawls 1) d pawl-springs 0 d", connecting-rods 11 (Z friction-spri ng 1), adj usting' nut 0 feed-rings Z) 1), connections I) Z)", the bed-plate A, the portion B of the under member of the clothclamp, the cross-slide b, stationaryguideway b ,-and the adjustable guideway b for the cloth-clamp slide-frame I), the connectinglink N the vibratinglever C, with its auxiliary lever c, the vibrating-lever stud 0 the gear-wheel d,with its cam-groove d the spindle or stud I), the slide-bar d, the shouldered screw (1, the lever (1 the roller-screw 513, the adj listing-stud d, the lever (W, the screw (Z the link (1, the springs c c, the screws 0 c and the adjusting-screws c c are in 0011- struction and function similar to the parts correspondingly designated in my pending application, Serial No. 039,400, above referred to. From a comparison of Figs. 1 and 3 with my pending application referred to it will be readily understood that the gear-wheel d derives its step-by-step rotary motion in the direction indicated by the arrow t through its connection with the pawl-actuated ratchetwheel mounted on the spindle Z1 Referring to Fig. 1, the cutter-bar rockshaft 1, its crank-arm 2, the cutter-bar collar 3, the cutter-bar 4, excepting as hereinafter explained, and its attached cutter 5, the hooked collar or depressor (3, fast on the needle-binrock-shaft 7, the collar 8, fast on the cutter-bar rock-shaft 1, the latch 9, pivoted at 10 to the collar 8, the spring 11, the stop-pin 12, the spring 13, the spring-collar 11, the collar 15, the stop-finger 10, the spring 17, the lever 18, the pivot-screw 19, the stoppins 20 and 21, the flat spring 22, the collar 23, and its pin 24 are in their construction and operation the same as the corresponding parts shown and described in said PatentNo. 581,031, but diiferently designated.

The stitch-forming mechanism, frame, and overhanging arm shown and described in this application are similar to corresponding parts employed in the pending application and United States patent herein referred to and comprise the well-known \Vheeler'ds WVilson D sewing mechanism commonly used in con nection with their well-known buttonhole machines.

The manner of attaching the knife-clamp to the lower end of the cutter-bar, as shown and described in this application,differs somewhat from the manner shown and described in United States Patent No. 581,031 in that an adjustable collar 25 is employed to adjust the clamp vertically with relation to the cutter-bar; but such change in construction comprises no part of my present invention.

The throat-plate 20 is of the construction commonly employed in connection with the well-known \Vheeler & Vilson automatic buttonhole sewing and cutting machine, and its details of construction are set forth in United States Patent No. 307,315, granted July 26, 1887.

From the foregoing it will be understood that to connect operatively the cutting mechanism shown and described in United States Patent No. 581,031 With the cloth-actuating mechanism shown and described in my pending application, Serial No. ($39,400, it is necessary to connect operatively the lever 18 with some part of the cloth-actuating mechanism, so that at the proper time in the overseaming of the buttonhole the cutter will be automatically actuated to cut the buttonholeslit. To accomplish this result, a lever 27, Figs. 1, 4t, and 11, is attached to the adj ustable way?) by a pivot-screw 28, Figs. 1, 7, and 11, and held in the direction indicated by the arrow 10, Figs. 1, 4, and 11, by a suitable coiled spring 6, Figs. 6 and 10, located in the adjustable way b and encircling the screw 28, positioned to operate in the usual manner. The lever 27 is constructed with two extending arms, one of which, 29, is positioned to coact with the lever 18, and the other, 42, Fig. 4, extends in the opposite direction, or nearly so, and under the edge of the gear-wheel d, so that the roller-stud 30, rotating with the gearwheel d, will strike the unexposed arm 42 of the lever 27, causing the arm or extension 29 to act upon the lever 18 and effect the automatic operation of the cutter in the same manner as if said lever .18 had been actuated by the movement of the cross-slide N of Patent No. 581,031.

Having sufficiently described the details of construction and operation of the cutting and cloth-feeding mechanisms to show an opera tive combination, I will now proceed to describe in detail the construction and mode of operation of my present invention.

IIO

Prior to this invention it was common to mount the ratchet wheel or wheels upon a suitable pivotal stud, as is represented by 17 said ratchet wheel or wheels resting upon a suitable flange or base, as is represented by 37, and frictionally governed by a suitable washer of metal or other material on the upper side or by a suitable spring, as is represented by I). In my present construction two friction devices are employed, the usual upper adjustable friction device and the added lower friction device 36, Fig. 2.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 3, in the bed-plate A is secured a dog-pin 38, partially in view in Fig. 1 and shown in Fig. 3 partly broken off, the friction-disk 36 being provided with a suitable opening 39,diametrically somewhat larger than the dog-pin 38, for the reception of said pin, permitting said disk when positioned, as shown by dotted lines, Fig. 3, to be slightly rotated on stud b flthe friction-sprin g b positioned to operate in the usual manner in connection with the upper side of the upper ratchet-wheel, with the exception that it is connected and mounted to partake of a like slight rotation. In order to enable the friction-spring b to partake of this slight backward rotation, the hole f in the said frictionspring is made large enough to fit loosely upon the slabbed-off or squared portion 9 of the stud 11 so that the said friction-spring will have the same movement as the under friction-disk 36 and will partake of the same lost motion as the said disk. This friction-disk 36, in common with the parts with which it is connected, has at intervals a slight backward motion as a result of the recoil of the springs employed in connection with the cutter-actuating mechanism. To the friction-disk 36 are secured suitable friction-pieces 40,preferably of rawhide, like friction-pieces 40, being secured to the arms etl of the friction-spring I).

From the foregoing it will he understood thatin the operation of the machine the rollerstud 30, carried by the cam-wheel d, coacts with the unexposed arm 42 of the lever 27 (see Figs. 1 and 4) to move the arm 29 and the lever 18 in opposition to the springs 13 and 17 to elfect a hitch-up between the clutch 9 and depressor 6 and that at such time the cloth and cutter-actuatin g mechanisms will, through the .force exerted by said springs, move slightly backward as the pawl or pawls are moved backward for a subsequent actuation of'the ratchet wheel or wheels, so that during such time as the cutting mechanism is under the domination of the cloth-actuating mechanism the feed movement is slightly reversed prior to every progressive movement-for the purpose of avoiding an operative hitch-up between the latch 9 and depressor 6 excepting coincidently with the step-by-step feed movement.

The flange 37 of the pivotal stud b is of small diameter, and its frictional cooperation with a like amount ofthe under surface of the friction-disk 36 offers but a slight resistance to the movement of the parts mountedon said pivotal stud and resting upon said flange and facilitates the partial rotation of such parts and parts. actuated by them when resisted by the power which forces the cutter into action.

The friction device .36 (see Fig. 2) is cut away to accommodate the cam wheel (1'. (See Fig. 1.)

What I claim is' 1. In a buttonhole sewing and cutting machine, in combination, the feed-actuating mechanism, the cutter-actuating mechanism, and means, including upper and lower friction devices applied to the feed-actuating mechanism, whereby the engagement of said two mechanisms sets the same in a determined relative position preparatory to the actuation of the cutter, substantially as described.

2.' In a buttonhole sewing and cutting machine, in combination the needle, needle-actuatin g mechanism, the feed-actuating mechanism, the cutter-actuating mechanism, and means including friction devices whereby the resistance of the cutter-actuatin g mechanism sets the feed-actuating mechanism in a determined position and means whereby the feed-actuating mechanism then actuates the cutter-actuating mechanism, substantially as described.

3. In a buttonhole sewing and cutting machine, in combination with the cutter-actuating mechanism, a cloth-actuatin g mechanism containing a plurality of friction devices constructed and arranged to permit a slight reverse movement of the cloth-actuating and cutter-actuating mechanisms, at such time as the feed movement of the cloth-actuating mechanism is resisted by the power necessary to force the cutter into action, substantially as described.

4 In a buttonhole sewing and cutting machine, in combination with the cutter-actuating mechanism, a cloth-actuating mechanism containing a plurality of friction devices arranged in operative relation to the opposite sides of the feed or ratchet wheel or wheels,

said friction devices mounted to be easily turned slightly backward at such time as the feed movement of the cloth-actuating mechanism is resisted by the power necessary to force the cutter into action, substantially as described.

5. In a buttonhole sewing and cutting machine, in combination with the cutter-actuating mechanism, a cloth-actuating mechanism containing one or more rotatingfeed or ratchet wheel or wheels, mounted on a suitable pivotal stud and frictionally controlled on opposite sides by independently-mounted friction devices; said friction devices constructed and arranged to permit the cloth-actuating and cutter-actuating mechanisms to be easily turned slightly backward when resisted by the power necessary to force the cutter into action, substantially as described.

ICC

6. In a buttonholc sewing and cutting mamovement of the cloth-actuating mechanism chine, in combination with stitch forming when resisted by the power necessary to force mechanism the cutter-actuating; mechanism, the cutter into action, substantially as dea cloth-actuating mechanism containing one scribed. 5 'or more rotating feed or ratchet Wheel or In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 15 wheels, mounted on a suitable pivotal stud my hand this 25th day of July, A. D. 1898.

secured in the machine-bed, and frictionally FREELAND \V. OSTROM. controlled on opposite sides hyindependently- I Witnessesi mounted friction devices, and a suitable stop 1 L. C. IIAMiLTON,

to to predetcrmine the extent of the reverse A. \V. DAVENPORT. 

